The Department of Transport is facing mounting pressure to provide an update on its progress in clearing the significant backlog of outstanding driver’s licence cards across South Africa.
Concerns have been raised by civil society and political figures, with Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana urging Transport Minister Barbara Creecy to urgently brief the public on the department’s recovery plans. This comes after the country’s only licence card printing machine, which broke down in February, was reported to be operational again as of last month.
At the time of the breakdown, the department acknowledged a staggering backlog of nearly 750,000 licence applications. In KwaZulu-Natal alone, over 115,000 motorists are still waiting for their new cards.
Gana criticised the ongoing reliance on the outdated printing machine, noting its frequent breakdowns and escalating maintenance costs.
“The country is currently serviced by only one driver’s licence card printing machine, which has far exceeded its lifespan and productivity,” Gana said. “What is of concern is that between 2022 and 2025, the machine has been offline for 129 days, with repairs and maintenance costing over R12 million. An additional R4 million has been spent on overtime.”
The delays have caused widespread frustration among motorists and sparked renewed calls for the department to modernise the system and invest in long-term infrastructure solutions to avoid future backlogs.